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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1

Contact: Democratic Services 

Media

Items
No. Item

41.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any Apologies for Absence from Members of the Committee.

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Dan Levy, Michael Brooker, and Colin Dingwall.

Councillor Michele Mead substituted for Councillor Colin Dingwall.

42.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations from Members of the Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Michele Mead stated that application 23/02672/HHD was in her husband’s name and would leave the room whilst the Sub-Committee considered the application.

 

Councillor Nick Leverton stated that he personally knew of the applicant relating to application 23/02672/HHD and would leave the room whilst the Sub-Committee considered the application.

 

Councillor Andrew Prosser stated that in relation to application 23/01524/FUL, the cabling would run along streets through his ward (Witney North).

 

Councillor Adrian Walsh stated that the site relating to application 23/02197/FUL was located within his ward.

 

Councillor Phil Godfrey stated that he personally knew of the applicant relating to application 23/02197/FUL, and with permission of the Chair, would observe proceedings from the public gallery whilst the Sub-Committee considered the application.

43.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 63 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting, held on 6 November 2023.

Minutes:

Councillor Lysette Nicholls proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 6 November 2023, be agreed by the Sub-Committee as a true and accurate record, and signed by the Chair.

This was seconded by Councillor Andrew Prosser, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee Resolved to:

1.    Agree the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 6 November 2023, as a true and accurate record.

44.

Applications for Development pdf icon PDF 563 KB

Purpose:

To consider applications for development, details of which are set out in the attached schedule.

Recommendation:

That the applications be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Business Manager – Development Management.

 

Page

Application No.

Address

Planning Officer

13–31

23/01524/FUL

University Farm Witney Road

 

Joan Desmond

 

32-41

23/02197/FUL

Mutchmeats Ltd Abattoir  New Close Lane

 

Kate Alder

 

42=66

23/02352/FUL

Land East Of Main Road

 

Joan Desmond

 

67-71

23/02672/HHD

30 Milestone Road Carterton

 

Elloise Street

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Ahead of the Applications for Development being considered by the Sub-Committee, the Chair advised there would be a meeting of the Development Control Committee taking place on Monday 5 February 2024 at 10.00am. Members were asked to note this in their diaries. The Chair also advised that further information regarding the meeting would be cascaded by Democratic Services when available.

 

23/01524/FUL – University Farm, Witney Road, Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9UH.

 

Joan Desmond, Principal Planner, introduced the application, for the installation and operation of a renewable energy generating station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays and battery-based electricity storage containers, together with a switchgear container, inverter/transformer units, site access, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

The Principal Planner drew the Committee’s attention to the additional representations report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

Bente Klein addressed the Sub-Committee on behalf of the applicant, which raised points of clarification surrounding outstanding paperwork related to the application, projected levels of construction traffic in the local area, destination of generated electricity from the site, and support to the local community in conjunction with Hailey Parish Council.

The Principal Planner continued with their presentation, which clarified the following points:

  • Generation of approximately 35 megawatt of renewable electricity – Enough for the proposed site to provide renewable electricity for up to 15,000 homes over an estimated 40-year period;
  • Character and visual impacts of the local area – The site would have harmful impacts on the landscape surrounding the proposed site, and more locally within the Hailey Conservation Area;
  • The proposed site would help to achieve renewable energy targets stated and supported within the National Planning Policy Framework;
  • The proposal would have a harmful impact on the character and landscape and heritage assets of the local area.

The Chair then invited the Sub-Committee to discuss the application, which raised the following points:

  • Benefits of renewable energy more broadly – The site would help to provide renewable electricity for up to 15,000 homes in the local area;
  • Harmful impacts of the site on the local conservation area – The proposed site would heavily impact land used regularly for agricultural purposes;
  • Clarification of the Officer recommendations – The application was recommended by Officers for refusal, and Members were advised to consider the officer recommendations that were before the Sub-Committee;
  • Height of the fencing on the perimeter of the proposed site – The site would be surrounded by fencing consistent with other solar farms;
  • Lack of supporting information related to the proposed site – The applicant had not submitted all the required information within the application.  Given the late submission of additional information the applicant had been advised to withdraw the application and submit a fresh application;
  • Impacts of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) within the local area – The proposal would see a substantial increase in construction traffic in the local area.

Councillor Lysette Nicholls proposed that the application be refused, in line with officer recommendations. This was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

Applications Determined under Delegated Powers and Appeal Decisions pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Purpose:

To inform the Sub-Committee of applications determined under delegated powers and any appeal decisions.

Recommendation:

That the reports be noted by the Sub-Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report giving details of applications, determined under delegated powers, and decisions taken to appeal, was received, and noted by the Sub-Committee.

46.

Progress on Priority Enforcement Cases pdf icon PDF 320 KB

Purpose:

To provide an update on progress in respect of priority enforcement investigations.

 

Recommendation:

That the progress and nature of the outstanding enforcement investigations detailed in Sections A – C of Annex A be noted.

Minutes:

Kelly Murray, Principal Planner (Enforcement and Appeals), introduced the report, which provided an update on progress in respect of priority enforcement investigations.

 

The Principal Planner gave the Sub-Committee an overview of the recent workload of the Enforcement and Appeals Team and numbers of priority cases, and detailed the progress and nature of the outstanding enforcement investigations.

 

In debate, members asked for clarification of staffing levels within the enforcement and wider development management team and thanked the department for their continuing work.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the content of the report.